Pneumatic hub.



N. E. ANDRIE.

PNEUMATIG HUB.

APPLIoATIoN FILED ooT.31, 1911.

WLUMBIA PLANOOMPH $0.. WASHINGTON. D. C.

@Mmem STATES FATE 'I FFICE.

NORMAN E. ANDRIE, OF GENTERVILLE, MARYLAND.

PNEUMATIC HUB.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, NORMAN E. ANnRm, a citizen of the United States, residing at Centerville, in the county of Queen Annes and State of Maryland, have invented new and useful Improvements in Pneumatic Hubs, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to the type'of vehicle hubs which are yieldable, being preferably pneumatic, thereby compensating for shock, vibration and jar so as to render riding easy and comfortable and prevent excessive wear upon the vehicle and parts carried thereby.

The present invention provides a novel form of hub and connecting means which makes provision for torsional strain so as to allow for a limited circumferential movement of the outer portion of the wheel, thereby preventing` the strain upon the hub and the connection of the spokes with said hub.

The invention consists of the novel features,l details of construction and combination of parts, which hereinafter will be more particularly set forth, illustrated in the accompanying' drawing, and pointed out in the appended claim.

Referring to the drawing forming a part of the specication, Figure 1 is a side view of a hub embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical central longitudinal section thereof. Fig. 3 is a section on the line of Fig. 2.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description, and indicated in all the views of the drawing, by the same reference characters.

The numeral 1 designates an axle. Supports 2 are mounted upon the axle each consisting of a central portion and radial arms. A shell 3 has the inner ends of spring arms 4 attached thereto. A pair of rings 5 is located upon each end portion of the axle V1 and the outer ends of the arms 4 are connected thereto. The rings comprising each of the pairs are spaced apart and are connected at their outer edges by portions 13 which span the spaces land to which the outer ends of the arms 4 are attached. The rings of each pair are connected at regular intervals by means of radially disposed plates 12 which constitute partitions. The

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led October 31, 1911.

Patented June 4, 191.2.

Serial No. 657,758.

outer ends of the arms 2 enter the spaces formed between the rings of eachpair and also .come between the partitions 12. A shell 6 is mounted directly upon the axle 1 and its ends are flared to form cups 14. Cones 15 are mounted upon end portions of the axle 1 and enter the cups 14 and are retained in place by means of the hub portions of the supports 2, which latter are secured to the axle 1. Balls are interposed between the cups 14 and the cones 15 and constitute antifriction bearings between the axle and wheel'. The arms 4 are comparatively thin and wide and are arranged to incline in opposite directions, as indicated most clearly in Fig. 1, so as to prevent any possible circularmovement between the shell 3 and the pair of rings 5.

A cushion 7 is interposed between the two shells 3 and 6 and is preferably of the pneumatic type, thereby admitting of the outer shell yielding. The pneumatic cushion 7 may be of any formation and is adapted to be iniiated in any convenient way.

The rings 5 are provided at regular intervals in their circumferential length with rollers 8, which constitute stops and are adapted to engage the outer ends of the arms of the supports 2, so as to cause said supports to turn with the shell 3 in either direction. On reference to Fig. 3 it will be observed that the arms have a limited circumferential play between the rollers, this play vallowing for a circumferential movement of the outer portion of the wheel, thereby preventing straining of the parts.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, the advantages of the construction and of the method of operation will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains, and while I have described the principle of operation of the invention, together with the device which I- now consider to be the embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that the device shown is merely illustrative, and that such changes may be made when desired as are within the scope of the claim appended hereto.

Swinging frames9 are arrarilged between the rings 5 and are pivot-ally connected at their outer ends thereto, as indicated at 10. These swinging frames are provided at their inner ends with rollers 8. Springs 11 press the inner ends of adjacent frames apart. Partitions 12 are located between the rings 5 and between adjacent swinging frames and the springs 11 are attached thereto.V The l rings 5 are co-nnected at intervals by cross pieces 13 and the space between the rings is such as to correspond approximately with the distance from one side of the arms to the other.

In practice the supports 2 are secured to the axle and the inner ends of the hubs form cones which receive the balls forming the bearings between the hub of the wheeland the axle. The projecting ends of the shell 6 form cups. Vhen the wheel is in service any vibration thereof results in movement of the arms of the supports 2 between the rings. The cushion 7 sustains the load. Any circumferential movement of the wheel independently of the supports 2 brings the arms of the supports in contact with the rollers 8 and the springs 11 are gradually compressed and prevent any appreciable rattle or noise.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new, is:

Incombination an axle, a wheel mounted upon the axle, an interposed cushion between the hub of the wheel and the axle, supports secured to the axle and comprising radial arms, spaced rings arranged upon opposite sides of the support-s, said rings being connected at intervals at their outer edges, spring arms connecting the rings with the hub portion of the wheel, swinging frames located between the rings and provided with rollers at theirv free ends to Yengage the arms of the supports, and springs for pressing adjacent swinging trames apart.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

NORMAN E. ANDRIE.

Vitnesses HENRY ANDRIE, CHARLES W. MULLIKIN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of llatents,V

Washington, D. C. 

